Fantasy Football: Michael Vick Slowly Losing Fantasy Value

Sarah Bojarski, Staff WriterMarch 27, 2014

While free agency is continuing, it is slowing down. However, there are still signings each week. Since most of the other offensive positions were covered here, we can now focus on some of the quarterback movement. There has been a lot of re-signing and trading going on with quarterbacks. Not all will necessarily affect your Fantasy team this year, especially in standard redraft leagues, but a new quarterback on a team may affect other players on those teams. Let’s see who will be wearing a new jersey this fall.

Now that Michael Vick is with the Jets, his Fantasy value takes a hit. Photo Credit: Aringo

Michael Vick, QB, NYJ

The Jets finally released Mark Sanchez… and signed Vick. Whether Vick or Geno Smith will be the starter remains to be seen, but it will likely be a training camp battle. Odds are as well that the 34-year-old Vick will not be able to play 16 games, even if they let him. Vick will serve as a mentor to Smith (similar to the situation with Nick Foles) and probably end up starting for the Jets until he ultimately gets hurt. It’s a situation to avoid for Fantasy purposes. He only played seven games for the Eagles last season, and I’d take the under on that for games played in 2014. Having Vick in the game will help Eric Decker’s Fantasy value, but that will only last for so long.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, HOU

The Houston Texans finally gave up on Matt Schaub. They also know that Case Keenum really isn’t the answer either, as they ended up benching him for Schaub at the end of the season as well. Fitzpatrick is being brought in to likely end up mentoring a younger quarterback, while starting a few games. He has value in two-quarterback leagues, especially for the start of the season (although this is dependent on what happens during the NFL draft). Fitzpatrick is certainly capable of putting up a 3,000-yard season (he’s done it three times in his career) as the starter, but don’t look for that to happen this season.

Matt Schaub, QB, OAK

After Fitzpatrick was signed in Houston, the Texans traded Matt Schaub to the Raiders for a sixth-round pick. While Oakland certainly does make some questionable decisions, this one is baffling. While they do have a need at quarterback, they also have plenty of other needs that a draft pick could be used for. Last season, Schaub was benched. He played for 10 games last season and had a 10:14 TD:INT ratio. His overall quarterback rating was 37.3 for the year. He will likely end up being the starter for Oakland, but that doesn’t mean that he has a lot of Fantasy relevance. Matt McGloin and Terrelle Pryor are still on the roster, so don’t be surprised if all three QBs end up getting a start throughout the season. Avoid all three on draft day.

Matt Cassel, QB, MIN

Congratulations, Matt Cassel, you are the new starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. Cassel signed a two-year contract, essentially giving him the gig over the inept Christian Ponder. Last season, Cassel threw for 1,807 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions in nine games. He will be 32 years old for the start of the season, and it seems that the Vikings are willing to stick with him while they figure out who their long-term quarterback solution will be. With Cordarrelle Patterson emerging as a WR2, having Cassell at the helm won’t help his Fantasy value.

Chad Henne, QB, JAX

The Jacksonville Jaguars somehow managed to get something in return for first-round bust Blaine Gabbert. Even before sending him to San Francisco for a sixth-round draft pick, the Jags signed Henne to a two-year contract. Henne will be the starting quarterback for the Jags, but don’t expect much in terms of Fantasy production. In 15 games last season, he threw for 3,241 yards with 14 interceptions and 13 touchdowns. With not much else changing (so far) on the Jaguars offensive roster, expect similar production in 2014 from Henne. He’s a decent option as a QB2 in two-quarterback leagues, but he’s not justifiable as a backup quarterback in standard one-quarterback leagues.

Jason Campbell, QB, CIN

Campbell has proven to be a serviceable back-up quarterback, and that’s the role he’ll play again in Cincinnati. Andy Dalton has the starting job, and Campbell isn’t a threat to that. At 32 years old, he hasn’t played a full season since he was Washington’s starting QB in 2009. However, he worked with Hue Jackson, the Offensive Coordinator in Cincinnati, back in his Oakland days. If Dalton gets injured, Campbell will get playing time, but he isn’t someone to consider for Fantasy relevance.

Brandon Weeden, QB, DAL

With the quarterback situation in Dallas a big question mark, Weeden was brought in for a just-in-case scenario. Tony Romo had back surgery and Kyle Orton is in the final year of his contract with the Cowboys, but he has talked about retirement. Weeden has been dismal in his two-year career with the Browns. He’s not on the Fantasy radar, even if Romo doesn’t end up starting for some reason.

Sarah joined RotoExperts in 2010, just in time to start writing about Fantasy Football. She primarily follows football (year-round) and is always ready to talk running backs and PPR leagues. Follow her on Twitter @RotoExpertSarah